Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

County Distress Index: Serious · 73.5 | 1,550,542 people · 1st most distressed in Pennsylvania
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Philadelphia is the most distressed county in Pennsylvania. Score: 66.7. Serious zone. 396th nationally out of 3,144 counties. Four of five distress domains register above the 50th percentile, and three are above the 69th. This is not a county with a single pressure point. It is a county where the pressure is structural and distributed. The debt profile stands out. More than a third of residents — 34.1% — have debt in collections. Auto loan delinquency runs at 9.4%, 90th percentile. Student loan delinquency hits 22.6%, 88th percentile. Credit card delinquency is nearly identical. Layer on a poverty rate of 20.3%, child poverty at 25.8%, and 17.4% of the population living with a disability. The conventional narrative positions Philadelphia as a city in revival — universities, hospitals, a growing tech sector. The distress data suggests the revival is happening on top of a population that hasn't been lifted by it. Across the Delaware River, Camden County scores 61.1 (Elevated). Gloucester: 45.0. Delaware County: 44.6. Philadelphia's Serious score runs 22 points higher than its closest Pennsylvania neighbor. The county generates economic activity that shows up in adjacent counties' recovery while retaining the distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Philadelphia County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 89.8 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 89.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 90
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 93
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 99
Consumer Credit Distress 76.5
Debt in Collections 84
Medical Debt 29
Auto Loan Delinquency 90
Credit Card Delinquency 91
Uninsured Rate 42
Subprime Credit Population 90
Structural Poverty 67.7
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 87
Income vs. State Median 61
Child Poverty Rate 82
Disability Rate 64
Transfer Income Dependency 52
Economic Vitality 59.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 99
Business Formation Rate 5
House Price Change (YoY) 49
Legal Distress 33.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 33

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Philadelphia County
Philadelphia County, PA 73.5 Serious —
Camden County, NJ 67.3 Serious -6.3
Delaware County, PA 55.2 Elevated -18.3
Gloucester County, NJ 53.0 Elevated -20.6
Burlington County, NJ 49.4 Normal -24.2
Bucks County, PA 34.7 Healthy -38.8
Montgomery County, PA 32.5 Healthy -41.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Philadelphia County
Dallas County, TX 73.7 Serious +0.2
Orange County, FL 73.9 Serious +0.3
Bexar County, TX 73.2 Serious -0.3
Tarrant County, TX 72.6 Serious -1.0
Hillsborough County, FL 71.5 Serious -2.0

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Philadelphia County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Philadelphia County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Philadelphia County.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING CENTER OF PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia
215-765-1221
Foreclosure PreventionPost-PurchasePre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CENTER OF PENNSYLVANIA - NORTHEAST BRANCH
PHILADELPHIA
215-765-1221 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPost-PurchasePre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CENTERS OF PENNSYLVANIA - WEST PHILADEPHIA
Philadephia
215-765-1221 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPost-PurchasePre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
ASOCIACION DE PUERTORRIQUENOS EN MARCHA
Philadelphia
215-235-6070 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFair Housing
CCCS OF DELAWARE VALLEY, INC. DBA CLARIFI
PHILADELPHIA
800-989-2227 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseRental Help

See all counselors in Pennsylvania →

Find an Attorney

Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-932-0311

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Philadelphia County residents at no cost.

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia 215-981-3700
MidPenn Legal Services 1-800-326-9177
Neighborhood Legal Services Association 412-255-6700
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN)
Laurel Legal Services, Inc. (800) 253-9558
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (877) 429-5994
North Penn Legal Services, Inc. (877) 953-4250
Northwestern Legal Services (814) 452-6957
Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center (215) 981-3800
Summit Legal Aid (800) 846-0871

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania?

    Philadelphia County has a County Distress Index score of 73.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 246th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 1st in Pennsylvania out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Philadelphia County?

    The primary driver of distress in Philadelphia County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 89.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Philadelphia County compare to neighboring counties?

    Philadelphia County (73.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Camden County, NJ (67.3); Delaware County, PA (55.2); Gloucester County, NJ (53.0).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Serious zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Philadelphia County's score of 73.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

  • What data sources power Philadelphia County's CDI score?

    Philadelphia County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Philadelphia County?

    Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania has a population of approximately 1,550,542 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a metro county.